Cerebral Vascular Accident hemiplegic Patients with Agnosia tend to lean in the opposite direction from the affected side. However, during treatment of patients without Agnosia, a high percentage of left hemiplegic patients has the same appearance. Left and Right hemiplegic patients are observed to have varying balance difficulties. A special balance board was designed to aid in observing certain subjects. The board was divided in half and each half was connected to an X-Y recorder that could measure the weight of the patients and readable date for comparisons. The board was also to be tilted to angles of 5°, 10°and 15° in both directions. A description of the studies follows. 1. For the first, 30 self ambulatory subjects were chosen, 10 were right hemiplegics, 10 were left hemiplegics and 10 were normal control subject. The board was placed in a horizontal position(0°), then tilted by 5°, 10°and 15°s to both the right and left consecutively. A record of the EMG was taken for the M. erector spinae and the M. gluteus medius. 2. The subjects for this second test were two right hemiplegic patients who could not walk, and one left hemiplegic patient with Agnosia who could not walk. All three patients were experiencing PT training for self mobility at the time. The previously described test was conducted on these three patients over a period of thirteen weeks. The results of the tests done on the two test groups are as follows. 1. When the right hemiplegic patients and the normal control patients' weight results were compared, there was no difference in measurement statistically. However, when the result of the left hemiplegic patients tests were compared with that of the normal control group, a considerable difference was noted. When the board was tilted to the left and also when in the horizontal position, the data indicated that the patients were tilting drastically to the right. Statistically, (P<0.01) a low weight measurement was observed. 2. EMG measurement of the M. erector spinae and the M. gluteus medius showed various action potential. No major difference between the two groups was seen. Apparently, EMG was unaffected by this test. 3. The result of the test done on the two right hemiplegic patients showed the same results as the first test when they became able to walk. However, the left hemiplegic patient continued to lean to the right. The patient was ambulatory but not stable. The result was similar to the first test done on the left hemiplegic patients.
View full abstract